FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Current Undergraduate Students

Students outdoor

Faculty of Social Sciences Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate degrees are your academic cornerstone and the starting point for your future. They’re an opportunity to discover what you are passionate about and expand your thinking through program courses and electives. All while developing key skills like communication and critical thinking. 

 

The Faculty of Social Sciences offers a wide variety of degree programs that can often be combined in different ways. Students can focus on one subject with a single honours degree or if you are interested in two BA options, you can complete a combined Honours degree. Both options require the same number of units and take four years to complete. A BA degree typically focuses on one subject and takes three years to complete. 

calendar icon

McMaster Undergraduate Academic Calendar

An essential guide. Find course descriptions, regulations and sessional dates.

VIEW CALENDAR
paper icon

Undergraduate Courses & Course Outlines

View courses and course outlines, including information about assignments, due dates and more.

SEARCH NOW

Academic Calendar Quick Guide

You are welcome to enrol in any class that you meet the prerequisites for. Use your advisement report to ensure that you do not take courses that cannot be used towards your degree requirements. You are welcome to do so on purpose if you choose to.
 

To see how prerequisites are organized go to: the Academic Calendar > Most recent year > Course Listings > Search (Filter) by Subject (Prefix) > click on a class to see the prerequisites, then click on the prerequisite classes to see what they require. This will help you to decide which classes are most important to take this year.
 

Prerequisites can be specific classes, levels, a faculty, or a program within a faculty, specific grades in a class, or your cumulative GPA.
 

Antirequisites are specific classes, levels, a faculty, or a program within a faculty that will prevent you from taking a class.
 

Co-requisites are a class that you need to at least be enrolled in at the same time, if you don’t already have a final passing grade. 

student studying in library Undergraduate Programs CTA mobile image

Undergraduate Programs

Creating future leaders requires a diverse education experience, which is why we offer a wide variety of required and elective courses to students in our programs and across the University. This is your opportunity to explore and discover the academic program that is right for you. Most of our Level I students build a unique program in year one that provides them with a broad range of experiences on different subjects. 

  

Students enrolled in Social Sciences I study across a wide range of subjects in their first year and declare a major in year two. Students in Economics I and Health and Society I focus on their areas of study right from their first year. No matter which path you choose, you can do an Honours BA or a combined Honours BA, as well as complement your degree with a minor and/or affiliated certificate, giving you over 260 possible combinations to choose from. 

  

Find out more about our available undergraduate courses sorted by program, course and subject area below. 

Programs & Courses

Undergraduate Minors, Certificates and Diplomas

Make the most of your education experience at McMaster by exploring your options for incorporating a minor area of study into your program. Or learn about our unique certificates and diploma options.

Students in Health Sciences Library Students in Health Sciences Library Mobile image